(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 26)—The McKendree University football team collected its four straight victory with a 17-12 victory Saturday evening at home against St. Ambrose University.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) (Washington, Ill./Washington) threw touchdown passes on the first drive of each half for the Bearcats, including a nine-yard strike to junior tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) that put McKendree in front for good. Fisher was 9-for-20 for 145 yards in the contest.
McKendree, the No. 16-ranked team in the NAIA, improved to 4-1 on the year and 2-0 in Mid-States Football Association Midwest League play. St. Ambrose, rated No. 14 in the latest poll, dropped its second straight game to fall to 2-2 overall. This was the conference opener for the Fighting Bees. The Bearcats have won four of the last six meetings between the two schools.
After holding St. Ambrose on the first possession of the game, McKendree scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage. Fisher hit senior wide receiver Nick Fuhler (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) down the left side for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Senior kicker Jordan Fark (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) booted the point after to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead.
St. Ambrose chipped away at the deficit, and used three field goals from Patrick Schmadeke to grab its only lead of the night. His third field goal of the game, a 43-yarder on the final play of the first half, sent the Fighting Bees to the locker room with a 9-7 advantage.
McKendree took the second-half kickoff and took nearly eight minutes off the clock. On the 15th play of the drive at the St. Ambrose nine-yard line, Fisher scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-goal and was nearly sacked at the 17 yard-line. Fisher broke free and launched a pass toward the back of the end zone. Gettis tracked the ball down and grabbed it before hitting the ground for the nine-yard touchdown pass, putting the Bearcats back in front, 14-9.
Schmadeke kicked his fourth field goal of the night in the final minute of the third quarter to bring St. Ambrose within 14-12. Fark answered with a season-long 41-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to extend the Bearcats' lead back to five points at 17-12.
The Bearcats then forced a three-and-out from St. Ambrose and put together a time-consuming drive. A 47-yard punt from senior Bret Dougherty (Orlando, Fla./Boone) (Orlando, Fla./Boone) with 40 seconds remaining gave the ball back to St. Ambrose at their own 20-yard line. Out of timeouts, the Fighting Bees picked up one first down and got to the 39-yard line before a desperation throw on the final play of the game fell incomplete.
Senior running back Neil Godfrey (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) led the Bearcats with 52 yards rushing on 13 carries. Senior fullback Joe Beimfohr (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) added 39 yards on 16 attempts. Gettis, Beimfohr and sophomore wide receiver Myron Hicks (Sauk Village, IL/Bloom Trail) (Sauk Village, Ill./Bloom Trail) each caught two passes from Fisher.
Senior linebacker Heath Bohannon (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) led the defensive charge with six tackles, including five solos. Senior defensive back Michael Glielmi (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) added five tackles, while junior defensive back Antonio Greer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) registered an interception for the Bearcats.
Matt Ardiente rushed for a game-high 62 yards on eight carries to lead St. Ambrose. Quarterback Michael Hayward was 8-for-28 for 142 yards. His favorite target was Josh Smith, who caught three passes for 82 yards.
McKendree will enjoy an open date next week before returning to action Oct. 10 at home against the University of St. Francis (Ill.). Kickoff for the MSFA Midwest League contest is set for 1:30 p.m. at Leemon Field.
-McK-
